Man To Face Attempted Murder Charges

Eastside Santa Barbara Shooting Followed Drug Sales Dispute

A 38-year old Long Beach man will be extradited to Santa Barbara to face charges of attempted murder from a drug-related November 25, 2012 shooting.

Johnnie Lee Gray in in the Los Angeles County Jail awaiting his extradition to face charges locally. He is suspected to have ties to gang members in the Los Angeles County community of Lynwood.

Last November 12 around 7:20 p.m., a man was critically hurt by gunfire in the 1100 block of Bregante Lane on Santa Barbara's East Side. The victim spent months in the hospital.

Gray and the victim were linked to crack cocaine sales around Santa Barbara. Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute over the proceeds from drug sales.

Forensics on a cartridge collected at the scene matched it to AK-47 assault style rifles, but the actual weapon used in the shooting has never been located.

In April, Gray was arrested at his girlfriend's residence in Long Beach and charged in connection with a drug-related case there. Authorities in Santa Barbara waited for that case to be completed before beginning the steps to bring him here to face the attempted murder charges.

Local law enforcement estimate it could take a few weeks before the extradition process is complete.